Full-term and very-low-birth-weight preterm infants’ self-regulating behaviors during a Still-Face interaction: Influences of maternal touch

The present study was designed to examine maternal touch and infants’ self-regulating behavior in full-term and very-low-birth-weight preterm (VLBW/PT) infant–mother dyads. Mothers and their 5½-month-old full-term (n = 40) and VLBW/PT (n = 40) infants participated in a Still-Face (SF) procedure. Mothers used high levels of touching (82% of the interaction) and the functions of touch changed across periods. More attention-getting touch was used during the Normal period and more nurturing and playful touch during the Reunion Normal period. Mothers of VLBW/PT infants engaged in more playful touch across periods. Similar amounts of self-regulatory behaviors were observed for both groups across all three periods; however, full-term infants exhibited greater self-comfort regulatory behaviors during the Reunion Normal period. Finally, for both groups the presence and quality of maternal touch were associated with infants’ self-regulating behavior; thus providing evidence for the regulatory roles of maternal touch. These findings underscore how both maternal touch and infants’ self-regulating behaviors are important and effective components of infants’ emotion regulation.

► Full-term or VLBW-preterm infant-mother dyads participate in a still-face procedure.
► Maternal touch, and infants’ regulatory behaviors and affect were examined.
► Maternal touch and infants’ regulatory behaviors vary across the SF periods.
► Prematurity impacts on maternal touch and infants’ regulatory behavior.